Discover the History of Venice and Gondola Ride - Tour

Learn the history of Venice, passing famous monuments like St. Mark’s Basilica, and finally enjoy a gondola ride down some of the enchanting canals of the city centre. 

A first timer to Venice, or don’t know where to begin your explorations? Over the course of this small-group tour, experience many of the city’s top highlights: see the Rialto Bridge, fish market, historic palaces, and a quirky bookshop on a city walk before admiring the shimmering gold mosaics inside St. Mark’s Basilica. Plus enjoy a relaxing gondola ride and explore areas of the city that many tour groups miss. 

Discover the magic of Venice on foot and by water on a combined walking tour and gondola ride. Explore the city centre with a local guide, marvel at the Basilica from St. Mark's Square, and then take a ride down the canals on the city’s famous mode of transport. 

Meet near the Rialto Bridge and learn why it was initially considered a very bad idea to build it. Take a quick look at the Rialto Fish Market to learn about the long fishing history of the city and its famous cuisine. Get a couple of restaurant recommendations from your local guide! 

Continue your walking tour to discover some of the city’s hidden gems. You'll learn what it is like to live on the island today as you meander through hidden alleyways. Admire a unique mansion that belonged to a powerful Venetian family. See a remarkable statue by Verocchio on the Campo San Giovanni and Paolo, where you will also see a variety of typical Venetian architectural styles. And stop by a quirky bookstore with a stunning canal view and friendly resident cats. Your guide will wait outside, allowing you free time to explore inside on your own.

Your city walk ends in St. Mark’s Square, gazing up at the city's famous Basilica. With pre-reserved entry, you’ll bypass the often-long lines and head inside this extraordinary church. Your expert guide will bring the basilica to life—revealing how its unique blend of eastern and western design came to be, uncovering the dramatic story of how St. Mark’s relics arrived in Venice, and helping you appreciate the shimmering gold mosaics that make this place unlike anywhere else in the world.

Your guide will then leave you to enjoy an approximate 30-minute gondola ride with a professional gondolier. Limited to only 5 people per gondola, this experience will be both intimate and relaxing. Punt through the quieter canals of Venice as you relax and enjoy the city at its best! 

Important: You must provide the following details for every guest in your party at the time of booking: first and last name. All guests must bring ID on the day of their tour as it is required to visit the St. Mark's Basilica. Failure to bring an ID can result in the security staff refusing your entrance to the monument. Name changes are not permitted.

Points of interest

St. Mark's Square

Rialto, Venice

Marco Polo's House

Santa Maria dei Miracoli

Saint Mark's Basilica

Important information - There may be restrictions

• On certain dates, most travellers staying outside Venice who wish to visit for the day must pay a €5 access fee directly to the Municipality of Venice. For further details (including exceptions) and to find out on which days this fee applies and how to register or make payment, please visit: https://cda.ve.it/en/. The fee is not required if you are only visiting the islands of Murano, Torcello and Burano.
• During times of high tides, flooding, or heavy rain, the gondola ride may be substituted for another experience.
• The Rialto Fish Market is closed on Sundays.